Constitutional Court still immobilized as new nominees rejected

Taipei, July 25 (CNA) Opposition lawmakers have again voted down all seven of President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) justice nominees for Taiwan's Constitutional Court, a decision that is set to further prolong the court's paralysis.

Among the seven nominees, five, including veteran prosecutor Tsai Chiu-ming (蔡秋明) and Supreme Court judge Su Su-e (蘇素娥) who were also nominated to serve as president and vice president of the Judicial Yuan, were rejected only by opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) lawmakers.

The KMT and TPP hold a combined majority in the 113-seat Legislature, meaning no nomination can be confirmed without their support.

Several lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) joined the opposition in voting down nominees Chen Tsi-yang (陳慈陽) and Chan Chen-jung (詹鎮榮), both of whom are legal scholars.

It was unclear as of Friday afternoon why some DPP lawmakers opposed the two nominees, especially after DPP Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) suggested that her caucus would render support for all of Lai's picks prior to the vote.

Speaking with reporters after the vote on the legislative floor, KMT lawmaker Wu Tsung-hsien (吳宗憲) said the party's caucus had decided to reject all the nominees because they did not exhibit "the courage to say no to the ruling party."

KMT lawmaker Weng Hsiao-ling (翁曉玲), meanwhile, called on Lai to consult with opposition party lawmakers the next time he nominates justices.

Similarly, TPP chairman and legislative caucus whip Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) told a separate press event that the party would not accept nominees with partisan leanings.

The seven nominees rejected Friday were selected by Lai in March to fill vacancies on the Constitutional Court, his second attempt to do so after the Legislature rejected his first round of nominees in December 2024.

The opposition also argued in December 2024 that Lai's nominees, submitted without consulting lawmakers from opposition parties, were biased in favor of the ruling DPP.

The outcome further deepens the deadlock in the Constitutional Court, which is currently unable to hear and rule on any cases after KMT and TPP lawmakers adopted measures last December requiring a quorum of 10 justices for adjudication.

The court normally has 15 justices but only has eight for the moment, following the departure of seven justices whose eight-year terms ended on Oct. 31, 2024.

The Constitutional Court plays a critical role in Taiwan's democracy, acting as a check on both the executive and legislative branches.

It has the power to resolve disputes between government bodies, impeach presidents and determine whether laws violate the Constitution.

For individuals who believe their constitutional rights have been infringed, the court serves as a final avenue for redress.

Landmark rulings by the court in recent years include restricting the use of the death penalty, granting equal marriage rights to same-sex couples, and decriminalizing adultery -- decisions that have sometimes drawn criticism from conservative groups.